Coffin mattress



Dec. 17, 1963 R. L. HEGMAN COFFIN MATTRESS Filed Feb 5. 1962 IINVENTOR.

ROBERT L. HEGMAN.

ATTOR NEY.

United States Patent Ghio Filed Feb. 5, 1952, Ser. No. 171,144 1 Ciaim. ((31. 27-12) The present invention relates to cotfin mattresses.

t is customary in the preparation of bodies for burial to provide suitable clearance between the body and the top or lid of the coffin, either by the setting of an adjusting mechanism in the cofi'in itself, which regulates the height of a base member under the cofiin mattress, or by cutting into the mattress itself and removing sufiicient of the filling material therein to provide the requisite clearance. Such clearance varies considerably because of the fact that a cofiin and mattress of a given set may be called upon to protect a robust corpse or one of frail dimensions.

The proper positioning of the body in the cofiin is important to the assurance of proper repose and protection. it is desirable, because of the expense and complexity of the aforementioned mechanism, and the waste and unsightly appearances and loss of time involved in cutting cofiin mattresses, to provide a mattress which is readily and cleanly adjustable as to height, and this is accordingly the principal object of the invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description of the accompanying drawings in which FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of the following embodiments of coifin mattress in accordance with the invention. The preferred embodiment; a modified embodiment in which the compartment for coarse filling material is of triangular section; another modified embodiment in which the slide fastener is displaced from the center line of the mattress; a third modified embodiment in which the slide fastener is located adjacent the bottom rather than the top; and a fourth modified embodiment in which the slide fastener is located between the top and bottom of the coflin mattress. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the FIG. 2 embodiment as taken along the section line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

The FIG. 1 structure comprises portions 11 and 12 of a top filling of fine filling material such as rubber foam shreddings, pads or padding, or the like. The filling material 11, 12 is contained in two trough-like compartments 13 and 14, respectively. These compartments are formed by cloth and extend throughout the length of the cofiin mattress and are closed by overlying portions of the top flaps 15 and 16, respectively. Between the top flaps there is located a slide fastener 17, which, when open, provides access to a compartment for the coarse filling material 18, such as excelsior, pads or padding, or the like. The compartment for 18 is generally rectangular and is defined by the cofiin mattress ends 19 and 2%), sides, bottom, the undersides of flexible cloth walls 13 and 14, and those portions of the top flaps 15 and 16 which lie between the two trough-like compartments 13, 14 for the fine filling material.

It will be noted that in the FIG. 1 embodiment both sides of each trough for fine filling material, are connected to a top flap, and the ends of each trough are connected to the ends 19 and 20 of the outer cloth casing.

In the FIG. 2 embodiment, the compartments 21 and 22, provided for the fine filling material, are triangular in shape and are formed by the provision of webs between the top flaps and the bottom of the cofi'in mattress. A slide fastener 23 provides access to the truncated compartment 24 for gross filling material. The slide fastener is disposed in the central area which defines the top of compartment 24.

In the PEG. 3 embodiment, there is provided only a single compartment 25 for fine filling material, of wide trough-like configuration, and the slide fastener 26 is located at the top right edge of the cotfin mattress, to provide access to coarse filling material located within compartment 27.

The FIG. 4 embodiment is essentially an inversion of the FIG. 3 embodiment, as to compartment shapes, the slide fastener 28 being located on the bottom, and the compartment 30 for fine material being of inverted troughlike configuration. In FIG. 4 the coarse material is placed in compartment 29.

in the PEG. 5 embodiment, a compartment 31 for fine filling material is superimposed on a compartment 32 for coarse filling material. The first compartment is closed and the second compartment is open at the top, access being provided to same by a slide fastener 33, which traverses both ends and one side of the coffin mattress.

It will be observed that each of the embodiments com prises an enclosure for fine filling material which is superimposed on an enclosure for coarse filling material. Access to the latter enclosure is provided by a slide fastener which is opened to permit the quantity of coarse filling material to be inserted and withdrawn, regulated and controlled, as desired, so that the efiective height of the coffin mattress is optimized to fit the body to the coffin. It will be understood that it is not essential that the slide fastener be coextensive in length with the length of the coilin. In FIG. 1, for example, both the Zipper length of the slide fastener and the pair of compartments for fine filling, or either the fastener or the pair may be shorter than the compartment for coarse filling.

The outer casing of the mattress is made of suitable cloth, plastic or sheeting like material.

It will be understood that the compartment or compartments for the fine filling material in FIGS. l-4 and 5 constitute a finished support for the body or corpse in the embodiments illustrated. Broadly speaking, the finished support is that part of the mattress which is not opened by the zipper or fastening means.

The expression fastener as herein employed is intended to cover slide fasteners, such as Zippers, also snaps and the like.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A cofiin mattress comprising: an outer casing arranged in rectangular box-like configuration; a pair of webs each co-extensive in length with said casing and extending diagonally upwardly from a lower corner of said casing toward a central area at the top of said casing; a slide fastener extending along the entire length of said area, said webs and the sides and top of said casing defining first and second interior compartments of triangular crosssection for fine stufi'ing material, said webs and the bottom of said casing defining a third compartment of truncated triangular cross-section for coarse stufling material, said central area comprising the top of said third compartment, fine stulfing material disposed in the first and second compartments and coarse stufling material in the third compartment, said slide fastener being adapted to be opened to permit variation in the quantity of coarse stufiing material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 35,732 Froelich June 24, 1862 2,069,422 Sampson Feb. 2, 1937 2,301,596 Wells Nov. 10, 1942 2,412,953 Auerbach Dec. 24, 1946 2,449,424 Stieber Sept. 14, 1948 2,545,311 Rosberger Mar. 13, 1951 

